No driveway through green patch to Louise Street, Menlo Park council decides

By Bonnie Eslinger

Daily News Staff Writer

Posted:
08/21/2013 07:24:39 PM PDT

Updated:
08/22/2013 12:09:54 AM PDT

At least for now, neighbors have won a contentious battle against a developer who wants to pave a driveway through a green patch of public right of way behind his property in Menlo Park.

The city council voted 4-0 Tuesday night to deny developer Sam Sinnot's request to build a driveway from the back of his lot at 1825 Santa Cruz Ave. to quiet Louise Street instead of from the front to much busier Santa Cruz Avenue. Vice Mayor Ray Mueller abstained from voting because he owns a home near the proposed development.

Some council members said they don't expect their decision to end the battle.

"Maybe this ends up in a lawsuit. It probably will, from what I heard in these chambers," Council Member Kirsten Keith said before the vote. "People have different opinions."

The proposal became an "emotional, contested, controversial issue," Mayor Peter Ohtaki acknowledged early into the meeting. Sinnott had even asked for a police presence at the meeting, saying he felt threatened by the neighbors.

Sinnott, who owns an architecture and construction firm, told the council he believes a driveway could connect to Louise Street with little impact to the greenery at the end of what has become a de facto cul-de-sac that neighbors fought to protect.

"There doesn't need to be a loser here," he said.

Michael Hubly, who lives at the end of Louise Street next to the public right of way and the proposed driveway, said Sinnott just wants to increase the value of his property because "people want to be on a cul-de-sac so they can safely walk and play."

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The council's vote gave Hubly and his wife, as well as property owners on the other side, ownership of the disputed 53-foot by 60-foot patch through a process called abandonment. The city will require the new owners to record deed restrictions to ensure the land remains dedicated open space and to sign an agreement indemnifying the city against any future lawsuits related to the property.

Because the meeting ran after midnight, the council postponed votes on several agenda items, including a proposal to extend the red light camera program and a tentative agreement with the Menlo Park Police Sergeants Association.